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Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California’s Monthly e-Newsletter
Improving Life, One Breath at a Time
To automatically connect with your nearest American Lung Association, or to speak with a nurse or respiratory therapist at our free HelpLine, call 800.LUNG.USA (800.586.4872).
July 31, 2007 Number 150
Content:
MONTHLY HEALTH TIP
Caring for Someone With Lung Disease Do you live or take care of someone with lung disease? Being a caregiver can be physically and emotionally demanding. Learn coping tips and strategies at http://www.thoracic.org/sections/chapters/ca/publications/resources/resp...
BILL WOULD REDUCE PUBLIC EXPOSURE TO HARMFUL DIESEL EMISSIONS
To reduce public exposure to dangerous diesel emissions, the American Lung Association of California is co-sponsoring Assembly Bill 233 (Jones, D-Sacramento), which would improve the enforcement of diesel control regulations, increasing penalties for violators as well as education and outreach to vehicle owners regarding state anti-idling laws.
This bill would greatly help California’s efforts to reduce diesel emissions, meet state and federal air quality goals and reduce pollution-related health risks, including premature deaths, asthma attacks and hospitalizations.
AB 233 is currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee and will be scheduled for a hearing in August.
For more information, contact Linda Weiner at 415.282.8871 or linwiner [at] earthlink [dot] net or Bonnie Holmes-Gen at 916.442.4446 or bhgen [at] alac [dot] org
KAISER GRANT EXPANDS ASTHMA PROGRAMS IN THE EAST BAY
Thanks to a $70,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente, the American Lung Association of California is expanding its school-based asthma programs into Fremont, Hayward, Union City and other parts of Eastern Contra Costa County. The grant will fund Managing Asthma in the Childcare Setting workshops as well as efforts to work with school districts to ensure children with asthma in those communities benefit from the Open Airways For Schools and Kickin’Asthma programs.
The grant will also fund recruitment and training efforts for the association’s volunteer health educator program through Cal State East Bay, which trains students to teach asthma management classes to kids.
For more information, contact Adam Davis at 510.893.5474 or adavis [at] alac [dot] org
ASSOCIATION URGES AUTOMAKERS TO REDUCE GLOBAL WARMING
The American Lung Association of California joined with a coalition of environmental activists in urging automakers to stop blocking landmark regulations designed to protect public health and produce motor vehicles that emit fewer global warming pollutants. The association joined the Rainforest Action Network, Global Exchange, Freedom From Oil Coalition, and a number of other groups at a rally in front of the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers in Sacramento, providing information about the health dangers associated with air pollution and global warming.
The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers represents General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., DaimlerChrysler AG and Toyota Motor Corp., among others, is attempting to block legislation in California and 10 other states that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from tailpipes - the same gases that cause respiratory illness, poor air quality and global climate change.
For more information, contact Linda Weiner at 415.282.8871 or linwiner [at] earthlink [dot] net or Bonnie Holmes-Gen at 916.442.4446 or bhgen [at] alac [dot] org
ENERGY FOUNDATION FUNDS CAMPAIGN FOR CLEAN, HEALTHY AIR
Thanks to funding from The Energy Foundation, the American Lung Association of California will be able to continue and even expand its work on reducing the health threat posed by global warming, cleaning up transportation and mobilizing our Health Network for Clean Air to support key clean air initiatives.
With a proven track record of success, the American Lung Association of California was awarded a multi-year grant for the first time in seven years of funding from The Energy Foundation, which includes $150,000 for the first year and $90,000 for the second year.
For more information, contact Linda Weiner at 415.282.8871 or linwiner [at] earthlink [dot] net or Bonnie Holmes-Gen at 916.442.4446 or bhgen [at] alac [dot] org
NEWS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS CITYWIDE AIR QUALITY FLAG ALERT
The American Lung Association of California joined forces with the city manager of Riverbank to launch its air quality flag alert program at a news conference at the entrance to the city, where a flag pole will now fly a color-coded flag that indicates how healthy the air is based on the official air quality index. While the program has been launched at hundreds of schools in California to notify students and their parents about pollution levels, in Riverbank the flag alert program is being implemented by the city with flag poles in two locations where residents will see them.
The city is notified about the quality of the next day’s air by the air district, so it knows which color flag to fly. Green is good, yellow is moderate, orange means unhealthy for sensitive people and red signals unhealthy for everyone.
For more information, Susie Rico at 559.222.4800 or srico [at] alac [dot] org
SMOKE-FREE SAN DIEGO WEBSITE LAUNCHED AT PETCO PARK
In a demonstration projected on the JumboTron video screen at San Diego’s PETCO Park, one of the first outdoor venues in professional sports to adopt a comprehensive smoke-free policy, the American Lung Association of California launched a new online resource for visitors, residents, students, and policy-makers, SmokeFreeSanDiego.org, where online visitors can find attractions, restaurants and recreational venues where smoking is prohibited.
The website is designed to show how San Diego County is a leader in creating smoke-free communities, with resource lists of smoke-free facilities, both public and private, accompanied by links to relevant scientific studies and specific policy language adopted by local governments.
For more information, contact Debbie Kelly at 619.297.3901 or dkelley [at] alac [dot] org or Ross Porter at 619.297.3901 or rporter [at] alac [dot] org
STUDY FOCUSES ON REDUCING AIRWAY THICKENING IN COPD
A key feature that predicts the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the change that occurs in the airway due to inflammation. One of the most important factors is the increase in the thickness of the airway wall due to the proliferation of connective tissue cells.
By focusing on a molecule that regulates cell proliferation, Jun Araya, MD, Ph.D., is hoping to find a way to control thickening of the airway walls, which could reduce the severity of COPD and lead to better treatments.
His project at the University of California, San Francisco is one of 10 funded by the American Lung Association of California in 2007-2008. For information about projects funded in 2006-2007, visit http://californialung.org/research/research.html
HONOR YOUR SUMMER GUESTS Celebrating with friends over a summer barbecue? Having out-of-town guests this summer? Honor these guests and your special relationships with a donation to the American Lung Association. It’s meaningful and easy, http://californialung.org/donate/donate.html
TELL A FRIEND Forward this e-newsletter to friends, family and business contacts. Encourage them to subscribe for free at http://www.californialung.org. Signing up is easy. Just enter your e-mail address at the bottom right corner of the Web site homepage where it says, “get your free monthly lung health news.”
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